Apparatus for forming a cylinder and inserting it into a battery can

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for forming a cylinder is disclosed. It is useful, for example, for forming cylindrical battery can separator liners from a continuous strip of paper liner stock. The apparatus includes a forming tube having a receiving chamber that is defined by the inner surface of an outer tubular member and the outer surface of a central cylindrical member. The apparatus also includes means for sequentially positioning said forming tube at receiving and eject stations, and means for feeding the leading edge of a predetermined length of liner into said receiving chamber through a longitudinal slot in said outer tubular member. The outer tubular member has at least one transverse opening that is constructed to permit the extension therethrough of a friction element to engage the liner in the receiving chamber as said forming tube is moved from said receiving station toward the eject station to thereby wind the liner up into cylindrical configuration by catching the liner between the friction element and the central cylindrical member. After the liner has been wound up into a cylinder, ejection means ejects the liner from the forming tube, for instance, into a battery can.

[ Aug. 20, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for forming a cylinder isdisclosed. It is useful, for example, for forming cylindrical batterycan separator liners from a continuous strip of paper liner stock. Theapparatus includes a forming tube having a receiving chamber that isdefined by the inner surface of an outer tubular member and the outersurface of a central cylindrical member. The apparatus also includesmeans for sequentially position ing said forming tube at receiving andeject stations, and means for feeding the leading edge of apredetermined length of liner into said receiving chamber through alongitudinal slot in said outer tubular memher. The outer tubular memberhas at least one transverse opening that is constructed to permit theextension therethrough of a friction element to engage the liner in thereceiving chamber as said forming tube is moved from said receivingstation toward the eject station to thereby wind the liner up intocylindrical configuration by catching the liner between the fric- 93/81R, 93/77 R H0lm 1/02, B3lc ll/OO APPARATUS FOR FORMING A CYLINDER ANDTNSIERTING lT'llNTO A BATTERY CAN Inventor: Donald R. Traslt, BayVillage, Ohio Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation, New

York, NY.

Filed: Mar. 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 338,852

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 164,557, July 2l,1971.

US. 29/204, 29/208 D 93/94 R; 29/204, 208 D, 208 E References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS it States Patent Traslt [51] Int.

[58] Field of Search. 93/77 R, 77 CL, 81 R, 81 MT,

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tion element and the central cylindrical member. After the liner hasbeen wound up into a cylinder, ejection means ejects the liner from theforming tube, for instance, into a battery can.

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APPARATUS F OR FORMING A CYLINDER AND INSERTING IT INTO A BATTERY CANThis is a division of application Scr. No. l64,55 7 filed July 21,1971.

The invention relates to an apparatus for forming a cylinder, and moreparticularly, for forming a cylinder suitable for use as a separatorliner in a battery can from strips of liner stock.

One known method and apparatus for forming cylindrical battery canseparator liners out of flat strips of paper, and then inserting theminto battery cans, are described by M. Orlando in US. Pat. No.2,973,698. Briefly, the method of Orlando involves forming a continuousstrip of liner paper into a cylindrical shape by curving the sides aboutthe longitudinal axis of the strip of liner, inserting this cylinderinto the battery can, and cutting the paper cylinder to the desiredlength. The method and apparatus of Orlando are useful if the liner isuniform from top to bottom in the cell. However, they are not suitablefor the production and insertion of liners of the composite type inwhich a plastic film strip is joined to the upper portion of a paperliner a type described in the application filed concurrently herewith inthe name of Vicente S. Alberto and assigned to the same assignee as thisapplication (Galvanic Cell Having Improved Construction," D-8573).

The present invention provides an improved apparatus for formingcylindrical paper separator liners which can then be inserted in batterycans. The cylindrical liners can have strips of plastic film extendingcircumferentially around the top and/or bottom thereof. The apparatus ofthis invention enables cylindrical battery can liners to be formed froma continuous length or roll of paper having a continuous strip ofplastic film on at least one longitudinal edge.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus forforming cylinders from continuous strips of flat liner stock.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved apparatusfor inserting cylindrical liners in battery cans.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide an apparatus forforming cylindrical paper liners from continuous strips of liner stockhaving a continuous strip of plastic on at least one longitudinal edge,to form thereby cylindrical liners having a strip of plastic filmextending circumferentially around the top and/or bottom.

In one embodiment, the apparatus of the invention, includes a pluralityof forming tubes mounted on a rotatable turret such that the formingtubes can be moved to position them sequentially at receiving andejecting stations by rotating the turret. The forming tube in cludes areceiving chamber having an annular cross section. The receiving chamberis defined by the inner surface of an outer tubular member, and theouter surface of a central cylindrical member. At the receiving stationa predetermined length of liner is partially inserted into saidreceiving chamber through a longitudinal slot in the outer tubularmember. After the liner has been partially inserted in the receivingchamber, and thereby partially coiled or wound up, the turret is rotatedto move the forming tube past at least one stationary friction member,such as a friction cam, which is arranged and constructed to extendthrough a transverse opening in the outer tubular member. ,The liner inthe receiving chamber is caught between the stationary friction memberand the central cylindrical member, and is wound up into cylindricalconfiguration as the forming tube passes the stationary friction member.After the liner has been wound up into cylindrical configuration, it isejected from the forming tube into a battery can.

The understanding of the invention is facilitated by reference to thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the same apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the same apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned, top plan view of the turret assembly,showing the forming tube in greater detail;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the turret assembly;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the paper liner feed assembly;

FIG. 8 is a partly sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7

FIG. 9 is a partially cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a partially cross-sectional view taken along the line I()10in FIG. 7',

FIGS. 11 through 18 are fragmentary views of the same portion of theapparatus showing the forming tube, liner cutter, and lower part of theliner feed assembly at various stages in their cycle of operation;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the forming tube with part being brokenaway and shown in cross section to illustrate its construction ingreater detail;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing the liner at various stages in theoperation of the apparatus; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional, partially schematic view of the formingtube and friction cam, illustrating the operation of winding the linerinto cylindrical configuration.

Referring first to FIG. 20, the various stages in the formation of thepaper liner using the apparatus of the invention are shown. A coil ofliner stock 21 is provided as the source from which liner is fed intothe apparatus. The liner stock 21 is composed ofa continuous strip ofpaper 22 bonded, as by heat sealing, to a continuous stip of plasticfilm 23. At a receiving station, the liner stock 21 is partially fed.into a forming tube (FIG. 19), and is cut to the proper length. The cutliner 24 is then rolled up into a cylinder as the forming tube is movedaway from the receiving station. Subsequently, at an eject station therolled up cylindrical liner 24 is ejected from the forming tube into abattery can 51.

V In FIGS. 1 through 4, an apparatus constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention is shown. The apparatus includes front,middle, and rear vertical framemembers 26, 27 and 28, respectively (seeFIG. 2). A turret shaft 29 extends from. the rear of the apparatusthrough the rear, middle, and front vertical frame members 28, 27, and26 to the front of the apparatus. The turret shaft 29 is enclosed in astationary sleeve 30 mounted between the middle and front vertical framemembers 27 and 26, and extends to the front of the apparatus. At thefront of the turret shaft 29, there is mounted a rotatable turret, whichis indicated generally as 31. The turret 31 is shown in greater detailin FIGS. 5 and 6. The rotatable turret 31 includes a front turret plate32 which is operatively connected to the turret shaft 29, and a rearturret plate 33, which is rotatably mounted on the stationary sleeve 30.As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the front turret plate 32 is composed of aface plate 86 and a mounting plate 87. Four cylindrical forming tubes,shown generally as 25, are mounted on the turret 31, and extend from therear turret plate 33 to the front turret plate 32. The forming tubes 25are attached to the turret plates 32 and 33 by conventional means, as bybolts 88 and hold down plates 89.

As is best shown in the view of FIG. 19, the forming tubes 25 have anouter tubular member 34 having an annular cross section. Included withinthe outer tubular member 34 is a sleeve 35, which is rotatably mountedon a central mandrel 67 that extends the entire length of the formingtube 25. The inner surface of the outer tubular member 34 is spacedapart from the outer surface of the sleeve 35, so as to define areceiving chamber 36 having an annular cross section between the outertubular member 34 and the sleeve 35. The mandrel 67, sleeve 35,receiving chamber 36, and outer tubular member 34 are preferably, butnot necessarily, concentric with each other and with the longitudinalaxis of the forming tube 25. It is not necessary that the mandrel 67have a rotatable sleeve around it as long as tubular member 34 has alongitudinal slot 37 extending through said member 34 and communicatingwith the receiving chamber 36. The longitudinal slot 37 is preferablytangential to said receiving chamber 36 as shown in the drawings so thatthe liner stock 21 being fed through said slot 37 into the receivingchamber 36 will extend down into the receiving chamber 36 on the desiredside of the sleeve 35. The outer tubular member 34 also has a pair ofspaced transverse openings 38 which extend through said outer tubularmember 34 and communicate with the receiving chamber 36.

In FIGS. 11 through 18, the several stages in the liner feedingoperation are shown. The alignment of the vari ous parts prior to thefeeding operation is shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, the forming tube 25is moving into receiving position at a receiving station such that thelongitudinal slot 37 is directly below the leading edge 39 of acontinuous strip of liner stock 21, as is shown in FIG. 12. The linerstock 21 extends downwardly through a liner feed assembly 40. The otherprincipal parts involved in the liner feeding operation include a guideplate 41, a guide bar 42, a stationary cutter blade 43, and a movablecutter blade 44. As the forming tube 25 is indexed into receivingposition below the leading edge 39 of the liner stock 21, the guide bar42 is advanced into the position shown in FIG. 12, and the movablecutter blade 44 is retracted. The guide plate 41 and liner stock 21 thenbegin to descend, as is shown in FIG. 13. The leading edge 39 of theliner stock 21 is guided into the longitudinal slot 37 by passingbetween the guide plate 41 and the guide bar 42. The guide plate 41stops descending when it reaches the position shown in FIG. 14. Theliner 21 continues its descent until the liner 21 has been inserted atleast to an extent (FIG. such that the cut liner 24 will be engaged bythe friction cams (discussed below) when the forming tube is moved pastthem. Then, as is shown in FIG. 16, the guide plate 41 ascends to itsuppermost position and the movable cutter blade 44 begins its stroke. Asthe movable cutter blade 44 begins its stroke, the guide bar 42 retractsand is fully retracted by the time the movable cutter blade 44 engagesthe stationary cutter blade 43 and shears the liner stock 21 into aliner 24 of a predetermined length (FIG. 17). After the liner 24 hasbeen cut to the desired length, the forming tube 25 indexes away fromthe receiving station (FIG. 18).

After the forming tube 25 has received the lead portion of thepredetermined length of liner 24 at the receiving station, the turret 31is rotated in a clockwise direction (looking at FIGS. 1 and 6) such thattwo friction earns 45 reach through the spaced transverse openings 38 inthe outer tubular member 34 of the forming tube 27. As the forming tube25 moves past the friction cams 45, the liner 24 in the receivingchamber 36 is caught between the friction cams 45 and the sleeve 35, andis thereby rolled up into a cylinder. This operation is shownschematically in FIG. 21.

As is more particularly shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the friction cams 45are mounted on the stationary sleeve behind the front turret plate 32 insuch a position that they line up with the spaced transverse openings 38in the outer tubular member 34 of the forming tube 25. The friction cams45 are attached to the stationary sleeve 30 by a pair of split collars46. The cams 45 are pivotally attached to the split collars 46 at apivot point 47 by a pivot mounting arm 48. The cams 45 are spring loadedoutwardly by a spring 49 to press against the liner 24 and sleeve in theforming tube 25. A stop 50 is provided to prevent the friction cams 45from pivoting outwardly too far when they are not engaging a liner 24 inone of the forming tubes 25.

After the forming tube 25 has been moved past the friction cams 45, theliner 24 in the receiving chamber 36 is completely rolled up into acylinder. The turret 31 is then rotated clockwise so that the formingtube 25 is indexed to an eject station where the cylindrical liner 24 isejected from the forming tube 25 into a cylindrical battery can 51(having a diameter larger than the liner 24), as is shown in FIGS. 1 and20. The method of ejection of the liner 24 will be discussed in moredetail below. Battery cans 51, into which the liners 24 are inserted,are indexed into receiving position at said eject station byconventional conveying means. The battery cans 51 are held in receivingposition at the eject station by the spring loaded clamp 81 shown inFIG. 2.

The liner stock 21 is fed through the liner feed assembly into theforming tube 25. The operation of the liner feed assembly 40 is shownmost clearly in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9. The liner stock 21 is fed into thepaper feed assembly 40 through a feed channel 52 (FIG. 9). The feedchannel 52 is described by a back plate 53, the guide plate 41, and apair of side guide strips 54. The side guide strips 54 and front guideplate 41 are held in position by a pair of retaining strips 90. Aportion of the liner feed assembly 41) is adapted to reciprocatevertically in response to the motion of the paper feed assemloaded topull the liner stock 21 downwardly when the feed gripping fingers 56descend, but which are constructed so as to slide over the liner stock21 when the fingers 56 ascend. A stationary upper gripping finger 57, isspring loaded so as to permit the liner stock 21 to slide downwardlywhen the liner stock 21 is pulled downwardly by the feed grippingfingers 56, but to prevent the liner stock 21 from moving upwardly whenthe feed gripping fingers 56 are ascending. The feed gripping fingers 56and the upper gripping finger 57 extend through vertical slots 85 (FIG.7) in the guide plate 41 to gain access to the feed channel 52 andengage the liner stock 21.

The guide plate 41 is constructed so as to reciprocate vertically duringthe same cycle as the feed gripping fingers 56, but through a shorterstroke. The guide plate 41 has a vertically oriented slide bar 58integrally fastened on the front of the guide plate 41. There are a pairof opposed upper notches 59 and a pair of opposed lower notches 60 inthe sides of the slide bar 58. The two pairs of notches 59 and 6t)engage a pair of opposed spring loaded drive teeth 61, which arearranged and constructed to reciprocate vertically with the same cycleand stroke as the feed gripping fingers 56. At the beginning of thedownward stroke of the feed gripping fingers 56, the drive teeth 61 aremeshed with the upper notches 59, and drive the slide bar 58 (and hencethe guide plate 41) downwardly with the feed gripping fingers 56. Thedownward motion of all of these parts continues until the slide bar 58strikes a lower stop 62, which prevents the slide bar 58 and guide plate41 from descending further. At this point, the guide plate 41 is in itsfully descended position as shown in FIG. 14. The feed gripping fingers56, however, continue to descend to continue feeding the liner stock 21until the liner stock 21 is inserted in the forming tube to the extentshown in FIG. 15. The spring loaded drive teeth 61 disengage from theupper notches 59 and slide down the sides of the slide bar 58, until theteeth 61 engage the lower notches 60, at the bottom of the stroke of thefeed gripping fingers 56. The feed gripping fingers 56 and the driveteeth 61 then begin their upward motion, and the slide bar 58 and guideplate 41 are carried upward until the slide bar 58 strikes an upper stop63. The feed gripping fingers 56 and drive teeth 61 continue theirupward motion, as the drive teeth 61 disengage from the lower notches 60and slide over the sides of the slide bar to the upper notches 59, atwhich point the uppermost part of the cycle is reached. The cycle thenrepeats itself, as the next length of liner stock 21 is feed into thenext forming tube 25.

The feed gripping fingers 56 and the spring loaded drive teeth 61 areboth attached to a pair of side blocks 82, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.The side blocks 82 are attached to a back block 83, which (as is shownin FIG. 8) slides up and down on a pair of guide rods 84. Thus, thiswhole assembly reciprocates vertically as a unit in response to themotion of the liner feed assembly linkage 55 (discussed below).

To summarize the operation of the liner feed assembly 40, when the feedgripping fingers 56 move down wardly, they pull the liner stock 21 withit, and also the guide plate 41 is moved into place to guide the leadingedge 39 of the liner stock 21 through the longitudinal opening 37 intothe receiving chamber 36.

The means for ejecting the rolled up liner 24 from the receiving chamber36 into the battery can 51 at the eject station is shown most clearly inFIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 19. The forming tube 25 includes an eject bushing 64,eject drive pin 65, and an eject sleeve 66, which are normallypositioned behind the receiving chamber 36, as shown in FIG. 19; Theliner 24 is ejected by a forward movement of the eject sleeve 66, whichslides into the receiving chamber 36 all the way to the front of theforming tube 25. The eject sleeve 66 is driven by the eject bushing 64through the eject drive pin 65. The eject bushing 64 is driven by meansthat will be explained below. After the liner 24 has been ejected intothe battery can 51, the eject sleeve 66 is retracted into the positionshown in FIG. 19.

The several operations that are described above can be driven andsynchronized by conventional means. For instance, as is shown in FIGS. 1and 4, the apparatus of the invention can be driven from the main driveshaft 68 of a conventional cell assembly machine. Such conventionalmachines are described, for instance, by M. Orlando et al., in U.S. Pat.No. 2,962,844. The power for driving the apparatus of the invention canbe taken from the main drive shaft 68 through a bevel gear set 69. Thebevel gear set 69 drives an input shaft 70. The input shaft 71) turns aGeneva driver 71, which in turn drives a conventional Geneva drivenmember 72. Alternatively. any other conventional type of indexingmechanism can be used in place ofthe Geneva gear set. The Geneva drivenmember 72 revolves the turret shaft 29, which in turn revolves therotatable turret 31.

The input shaft also revolves a slide cam 73. The slide cam 73 engages acam follower 74 on a cam block 75 which, through an appropriate linkage55, operates the paper feed assembly 40. The cam block 75 is alsooperatively connected by a pair of rods 76 to an ejector block 77, whichhas a vertical engaging member 78 for engaging the eject bushing 64 onthe forming tube 25 to move the eject bushing 64 back and forth toeffect the liner eject operation. as explained above.

The input shaft 70 also rotates a cutter cam 79. The cutter cam 79operates the movable cutter blade 44 and the guide bar 42 through asuitable cutter linkage 80.

To briefly summarize. the power to drive the apparatus can come from themain cam shaft of a cell assembly machine. This main drive shaft.through appropriate gears. drives an input shaft, which powers all ofthe operations of the apparatus. First, the interrupted rotation of theturret is driven from the input shaft by way of a Geneva drive or othersimilar indexing mechanism. The input shaft also drives cam shafts tooperate the liner feed, liner cutting. and liner ejecting operations.

An apparatus embodying the principles of the invention has beendescribed. The apparatus is an assembly that can be attached to aconventional cell assembly machine at the liner loading station. Theapparatus includes means for feeding predetermined lengths of liner intoa forming tube. The forming tube is mounted on a rotatable turret thatis adapted to index the forming tube to a receiving station, to move itfrom the receiving station to a second station, and to index the tube toa liner eject station. The forming tube includes an outer tubular memberand a central mandrel inside of and concentric with the outer tubularmember. In the front portion of the forming tube, the mandrel has asleeve rotatably mounted thereon. There is a space having an annularcross section between the outer surface of the sleeve and the innersurface of the outer tubular member. This space is the receivingchamber. The outer tubular member has a longitudinal slot communicatingwith the receiving chamber and tangential therewith. The outer tubularmember also has a pair of spaced transverse openings communicating withthe receiving chamber.

While the forming tube is positioned at the receiving station, apredetermined length of liner is partially inserted in the receivingchamber through the longitudinal slot in the outer tubular member. Afterthe front portion of the liner is inserted in the receiving chamber, theturret is rotated to move the forming tube past a pair of friction camsthat line up with the said transverse openings. The friction cams extendthrough the transverse openings and engage the liner and sleeve. Theliner is caught between the friction cams and the sleeve, and is rolledup into a cylinder as the forming tube moves past the friction cams.

In the next step, the forming tube is indexed to an eject station, andthe liner is ejected from the forming tube into a battery can that hasbeen indexed into a receiving position at the eject station. The formingtube is then indexed back to the receiving station to start the cycleagain.

While the apparatus has been described being used to form a cylinder outof flat paper battery liner stock, it could be used to form cylindersfrom other materials such as metal foil, plastic films, sheeting.fabric, or other cylinder forming material. Other changes can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as definedby the following claims:

What is claimed is:

E. An apparatus for forming a cylinder, which includes:

a forming tube having a longitudinal axis and a receiving chamber havingan annular cross section, said receiving chamber being defined by theinner surface of an outer tubular member and the outer surface of acentral cylindrical member, wherein said outer tubular member has alongitudinal slot substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis andcommunicating with said receiving chamber, and wherein said outertubular member has at least one transverse opening communicating withsaid receiving chamber, said transverse opening being substantiallyperpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

means for indexing said forming tube to a receiving station, and meansfor inserting the leading edge of a predetermined length of cylinderforming material through said longitudinal slot into said receivingchamber while said forming tube is in receiving position at saidreceiving station;

means for moving said forming tube past at least one v friction elementwhich is constructed to extend through said transverse opening to engagesaid material whereby said material is caught between said frictionelement and said central cylindrical member and is rolled up intocylindrical configuration as said forming tube is moved past saidfriction ele' ment;

means for moving said forming tube to an eject station where saidmaterial that has been rolled up into cylindrical configuration isejected from said forming tube; and

means for indexing a cylindrical battery can to receiving positionadjacent to said eject station whereby said material that has beenrolled up into cylindrical configuration is ejected from said form- 5ing tube into said battery can.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said forming tube is mounted on arotatable turret.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central cylindrical member hasa rotatable surface,

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer tubular member, saidreceiving chamber, and said central cylindrical member are concentric.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for inserting the leadingedge of said predetermined length 5 of cylinder forming material throughsaid longitudinal slot into said receiving chamber includes:

a feed channel having a front, back, two sides, and an outlet;

means for feeding said material through said feed channel in incrementsequal to said predetermined length;

means for guiding the leading edge of said material into saidlongitudinal slot as said leading edge emerges from said outlet; and

means for cutting said material into lengths equal to said predeterminedlength.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for guiding said leadingedge of said cylinder forming material into said longitudinal slotincludes:

a guide plate comprising the front of said feed channel and adapted toreciprocate between a first position and a second position, wherein saidguide plate moves from said first position to said second positionduring at least part of the time that said material is moving throughsaid feed channel, and wherein said guide plate guides the leading edgeof said material into said longitudinal slot when said guide plate is inthe second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for cutting said materialinto lengths equal to said predetermined length comprises a movablecutter blade and a stationary cutter blade, the stationary cutter bladebeing adjacent to said outlet, wherein the movable cutter blade isadapted to reciprocate in a direction transverse to the direction ofmovement of said material through said feed channel, and to cut saidmaterial by engaging said stationary cutter blade.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for guiding said leadingedge of said material into said longitudinal slot includes a guidemember having a guiding surface, said guide member being positioned at aguiding position adjacent to said longitudinal slot when said formingtube is in receiving position at said receiving station, whereby saidleading edge of said material is guided into said longitudinal slot bypassing between said guide plate and said guiding surface of said guidemember.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said guide member isv adapted toretract from said guiding position when said movable cutter bladeengages said stationary cutter blade to cut said material.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said apparatus contains a pluralityof forming tubes mounted on a rotatable turret. and wherein said centralcylindrical member has a rotatable surface.

1. An apparatus for forming a cylinder, which includes: a forming tubehaving a longitudinal axis and a receiving chamber having an annularcross section, said receiving chamber being defined by the inner surfaceof an outer tubular member and the outer surface of a centralcylindrical member, wherein said outer tubular member has a longitudinalslot substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and communicatingwith said receiving chamber, and wherein said outer tubular member hasat least one transverse opening communicating with said receivingchamber, said transverse opening being substantially perpendicular tosaid longitudinal axis; means for indexing said forming tube to areceiving station, and means for inserting the leading edge of apredetermined length of cylinder forming material through saidlongitudinal slot into said receiving chamber while said forming tube isin receiving position at said receiving station; means for moving saidforming tube past at least one friction element which is constructed toextend through said transverse opening to engage said material wherebysaid material is caught between said friction element and said centralcylindrical member and is rolled up into cylindrical configuration assaid forming tube is moved past said friction element; means for movingsaid forming tube to an eject station where said material that has beenrolled up into cylindrical configuration is ejected from said formingtube; and means for indexing a cylindrical battery can to receivingposition adjacent to said eject station whereby said material that hasbeen rolled up into cylindrical configuration is ejected from saidforming tube into said battery can.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid forming tube is mounted on a rotatable turret.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said central cylindrical member has a rotatable surface.4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer tubular member, saidreceiving chamber, and said central cylindrical member are concentric.5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for inserting the leadingedge of said predetermined length of cylinder forming material throughsaid longitudinal slot into said receiving chamber includes: a feedchannel having a front, back, two sides, and an outlet; means forfeeding said material through said feed channel in increments equal tosaid predetermined length; means for guiding the leading edge of saidmaterial into said longitudinal slot as said leading edge emerges fromsaid outlet; and means for cutting said material into lengths equal tosaid predetermined length.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein saidmeans for guiding said leading edge of said cylinder forming materialinto said longitudinal slot includes: a guide plate comprising the frontof said feed channel and adapted to reciprocate between a first positionand a second position, wherein said guide plate moves from said firstposition to said second position during at least part of the time thatsaid material is moving through said feed channel, and wherein saidguide plate guides the leading edge of said material into saidlongitudinal slot when said guide plate is in the second position. 7.The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for cutting said materialinto lengths equal to said predetermined length comprises a movablecutter blade and a stationary cutter blade, the stationary cutter bladebeing adjacent to said outlet, wherein the movable cutter blade isadapted to reciprocate in a direction transverse To the direction ofmovement of said material through said feed channel, and to cut saidmaterial by engaging said stationary cutter blade.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein said means for guiding said leading edge of saidmaterial into said longitudinal slot includes a guide member having aguiding surface, said guide member being positioned at a guidingposition adjacent to said longitudinal slot when said forming tube is inreceiving position at said receiving station, whereby said leading edgeof said material is guided into said longitudinal slot by passingbetween said guide plate and said guiding surface of said guide member.9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said guide member is adapted toretract from said guiding position when said movable cutter bladeengages said stationary cutter blade to cut said material.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein said apparatus contains a plurality offorming tubes mounted on a rotatable turret, and wherein said centralcylindrical member has a rotatable surface.